Western Union Telegraph Co. v. Chiles

Citations

• 214 U.S. 274
• 29 S. Ct. 613
• 53 L. Ed. 994
• 1909 U.S. LEXIS 1916

Syllabus

<p>Where plaintiff in error, defendant below, in a suit for penalty under a state law asks and the court refuses an instruction that if the jury find that the default occurred within a navy yard, over which the United States had exclusive jurisdiction, the recovery could not be had under the state law, this court has jurisdiction to review the judgment.</p> <p>The Norfolk Navy Yard is one of the places over which, under Art. T, § 8, par. 17 of the Constitution, Congress possesses exclusive power . of legislation, and that exclusive power necessarily includes exclusive jurisdiction; and it is of the highest importance that the jurisdiction of the State should be resisted at the border of such places. Fort Leavenworth R. R. Co. v. Lowe, 114 U. S. 525.</p> <p>The State cannot inflict a penalty for the non-delivery of a telegram within the limits of a place under the exclusive jurisdiction of the . United States; and so1held that under the statute of Virginia in that regard the penalty cannot be collected for the non-delivery of a telegram to an addressee within the limits of the Norfolk Navy Yard. Congress alone can prescribe penalties in such a case.</p> <p>107 Virginia, 60, reversed.</p>